School bus fares push Brighton families into hardship, study shows
A third of parents and carers in Brighton and Hove are going without food, heating or other essentials, or borrowing money, to pay for their children’s journey to school, according to new research published in January 2026.
The report, by campaign group Class Divide, calls on Brighton & Hove City Council to tackle a growing school travel affordability crisis by introducing free bus travel for the poorest pupils and guaranteeing access to the cheapest fares for all families. The findings reveal the cost of getting to school is now directly affecting attendance, attainment and family finances across the city:
- One in three parents and carers say they have gone without essentials or borrowed money to pay for school bus fares
- Nearly half of families cannot afford cheaper monthly or annual passes and are forced to rely on more expensive daily or weekly tickets, paying up to 40% more each year
- One in ten parents say their child has missed school because they could not afford the bus fare
- More than half of parents report their child arriving late to school, and almost a quarter say their child has missed school due to unreliable bus services
- One Headteacher reported a spike in Friday absenteeism driven by families running out of money for travel, not parents working from home
The report is based on a survey of 258 parents and carers across Brighton and Hove, alongside in-depth community conversations with families and headteachers in East Brighton. Headteachers warn that unaffordable and unreliable school travel is damaging
pupils’ attainment and placing unsustainable pressure on already stretched school budgets, diverting staff time and funding away from teaching and learning. Families also report children being unable to take part in enrichment activities, after-school clubs and wider school opportunities because of high fares and overcrowded or unreliable bus services.